Folding table



March 24, l925. 1,530,726

F. KOENIGKRAMER FOLDING TABLE y Filed May 28. 1919l 2 sheets-smeg 1March 24, 1925.

FOLDING TABLE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 28, 1919 Klr. J.

Patented Mar 24,l 1925.

UNITED s PATENT OFFICE;

FREDERICK ROENIGKRAMER; oR-GINGINNATI,01110,;Ass1enon To JOHN v.MeMANrs, or KIRKsvILLE. MISSOURI.

FOLDING TABLE.

Appncatien ined nay 2s, 1919. serial no. 300,413.

Be it known that I.l FREDERICK KOENIG KRAMER, a citizen otthe fUnitedStates, re-` siding at Cincinnati, inthe county of Hamilton and State`of Chio, haveinvented certain Tables, of which the following is aspecification. .y

Myl invention r lates to improve'ments in 'folding or portabletablesrnsuitable forja variety of purposes,` as for instancatheadministration ofv osteopathic treatments. One ot its objects is toprovideatableiot light weightadapted to fold, up and havethe appearance,of a suitcase or traveling case,

and. which isat the same timepfsutiicient Strength and rigidity to besafely` employed as a table to support heavy weights, as for instanceadult patients =for osteopathic treatments. `Another object is toprovide improved mechanism to .attach the legs in folding relation tothetable. Another object is to provide, improved truss vmeans to supportthe central or vhinge `section ofthe table relative to the ,ends or legsupporting sections thereof.` vAnother object is to 'provide improvedleg braceymechanism `and releasing ,and guidingmeans therefor. Anotherobject isto .provide a table which can be readily and conveniently.extended and folded. My invention also coinprises cerf tain details 'ofform, combination and ar-I rangement, all of which will be fully setorthin the description of the accompany` ing drawings, in which pz' g fFig. 1 is aA bottom plan of my improved,

table with one pairof legs in extended andiV the other pair in foldedposition., y l

Fig. 2 is aside elevation Lof the table in its face down, positionlatter having been unfolded and before being set uponi itslegs. Fig. 3isa sectional detail .longitudinally of one of the table sectionsillustrating the `olding and brace mechanism'. l p

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of vthe table iii `position for use. I i Y.Fig. 5 isa central vertical section of the table in folded position. y le Fig. 6 isaperspectfve view of a pair of hinge straps detached.. y

Fig. 7 im. dean ningpeijsp'eeeve er' tiie' brace locking and releasing,means;

y -Fig-8 is a detail inperspect-ive ot a portion ofthe brace releasingmeans.

Fig. 9 is adetail in perspective ot apoi-, :f

tion of the, truss supporting means.

- The accom an inv drawinos illustrate the preferred embodiment ot myinvention,` in which A' and A represent two sections ot a table topwhich are hinged together at their meeting ends by hinge memberslll` and15, which vare preferablyin the 'form ot metal hinge straps extendingnearly the entire length of the respective top sectionsat opVpositesides thereof, and thereby forming a reenforcement -for. the'topsections. and a pointof attachmentl pivotally securing lthe foldinglegs` 16 and 17 to the respectivetop sections'. The -tOpsectiOns .areApreferably constructed of wood in the form ofshallow rectangular boxes,which told together so as to encompass and contain the legs and braceand truss members. .The leg members 16 are lunited and braced relativeto each other by brace rods 18 and 19 preferably connected together`,where they cross keach other. "Aliinge rod 2O servesto connect thelegs16 to thel hinge straps 14, said straps being provided with offsets21 with perl'orationsfor the passage ot the rod 20, and providing roombetween the straps andthe side walls of the top sections to `receive andhouse nuts or blocks 22 which, are threaded to the ends of the rod 20.Between the legs 1,6 and the offsets 21 and pivotally mounted on. therod 2O aremetal blocks 24k through which'the truss rods 34 also pass andare movable endwise. i

Brace rods 26 are bent at right angles at oneend yand pivotally.connected tothe legs at 27 and held against displacement relative-'tothe` legs by -means of nuts 28 thread* ed tothe bentends 'of said. bracerods. At the opposite ends4 thebrace rods 26 have short sections bentoutwardly *atk right angles, and which lbear yieldingly against theinner `Afaces ofthe vside rails of the top section dueto the'vresiliency ot said rods 26.

z Short sections ot channel iron 30 arefsecured to the side rails Vofthe ,tpsection vbetween of the rods 26 are guided when the legs areunfolded and caused to enter and lock in `recesses 32 through themembers 30. The` edges of members at the entrance to said are providedoutside the blocks 24 with lock nuts and 36 vwhich limit the endwisemovement of the rods 34 through the blocks 24 and thns transmit strainfrom said blocks to the members 33 tending to support vthe centralportion of the table from its ends against any7 strain or weight appliednear the center of lthe table. Thetruss members 33 and truss rods 34constitute truss mechanisms at opposite sides ofthe table which areautomatically folded and extended as the table is folded or'extended byreason of the pivotal and sliding` connections between the trussmechanisms and the table. lf desired in place of the lock nuts 35 vand.36, the end of the rod 34 mayT be upset and formed into a head 36 asillustrated in Fig. 3, and the adjustment of the rods 34 as to lengthattained by threading the rod 34 into thev forked head 34 at the inneror opposite end thereof. The construction. mounting, bracing, andconnection of the trussrods for the legs 1? are the same as describedfor the legs 16. In v'order to hold the rods .26

against accidental. or other displacement, I preferably string the rods84 so as to pass inside of the rods 26, or with the rods 26between therods 34 and the sideV rails of the top sections,v thus positivelyguiding the free ends of rods 26 on opposite. sides,

In practice in setting` upthe table. it is placed on the floor closedasshown in Fig. 5, and the top sections thrown open to the. positionshownin Fig. 2, then the legs 16 are lifted into a vertical position andthen the legs 17 lifted to a similar position andthe table lifted andset upon its legs as shown in Fig. 4. I f desired the exterior of thetop sections may be provided with upholstering material 40 as shown inFig. 4.

When it is desired to fold the ta ble.'it is Erst placed'top down on thetloor as shown in Fig. 2, then the operator b v placing his foot for aninstant upon the loop 41 of the bent rod 42 causes a partial rotation ofsaid rod in its bearings, whereby the ends 43 of said rod enteringbetween the free ends of the brace rods 26 and the ribs ofthe member 30act as cams and lift the outwardly turned free ends of rods 26 out ofthe recesses 32 and permit the legs 16 to be folded into ythe topsection A. The loop 41 of the Leser/2e Vof the top sections, while therods 34 are thrust endwise through their recesses in the blocltsu24 topermit said movement of the member 33. When the table is unfolded asindicated in Fig. 4 the lock nuts 35 are drawn tight against the 4blocks24 at the upper ends of the legs 16- and v17' so that the e rods 34 andmember 33 are under tension. It will be noted that the loops 41 are bentat 45 to an obtuse angle, and that the bearings 46 areplacedsome'distance from tho ends of the loop'4f1. These provisions are Ysothat the rod 42 will have a normal position of rest when the table isunfolded, yin which the extreme ends 43 Iof rod 42 are in engagementwith the ends of rods 26'nnd the bends 45 rest under slight tensionagainst the inside of the top board with the loop 41 extended 'outwardlyfrom the top board. llVhen the end loopis pressed in contactwith the topboard. the bend 45 acts as a fulcruni but also enables aypartialrotation 'of rod 42 to take place, and as soon as pressure on loop 41 isreleased it tends to return to normal position. The hinge straps, legs,and truss mechanism can all be assembled together and then slipped intoposition with reference to the top sections and bolted in posit-iontothe side rails thereof.

Metal brackets 50 attached to the upper ends of the legs 16 andk 17 asillustrated in Figsjl, 2, and 3, Vserve, when the legs are in theunfolded position to cover or cap the ends ofthe truss rods 34 or 84 andthe lock nuts 35 and 36 orthe heads 36` and to thus preventmovementendwise of the rods 34 or 34 relative to they blocks24, and inthis manner prevent top sections Av and Aftrom folding upon theirhingeconnections should an attempt be made to lift the table b v grasping itat some point intermediate of the egs to lift it from they Hoor. Vhenthe legs are folded into the t-op sections lthe members 50 move with thelegs soas to uncap the ends ofthe truss rods and permit them to` moveendwisey in theblocks 24as the top sections fold together.

rlhe mechanism herein illustrated and described is capable ofconsiderable modifica tion without departing from the principle of mvinvention.

What I claim is: l

1. A folding table comprising a pair of top sections hinged together byhinge straps which extend along the inside of the side rails of said topsections to-'near the opposite ends of said top sections-and alsocontraseras stitute vmeans of attachment for folding legs to supportsaidV top sections in he open position and to fold Within said topsections in the closed position, and brace rods pivotally connected atone end to said legsfinek provided near theirl opposite ends with legs'adapted to be folded Within said top sections, brace rods connected atone end to said legs intermediate of their ends and at 'their oppositeends being turned outwardly and movable in guide channels carried bysaid top sections. locking recesses at one extremity of said channels toengage the outwardly turned ends of said braces, and means carried bysaid top sections Vto release said brace rods from said locking recessesin pairs when it is desired to fold said table.

3. A folding table comprisinga pair of top sections hinged together attheir adjacent ends upon a single hinge axis with legs adapted to befolded within said top sections, a truss member pivotally attached tosaid top sections at the hinged ends thereof, truss rods pivotallyconnected to said pivotally attached truss member..` andi-extend; ing toand having sliding relation with the opposite ends of said top sections.

4. In a folding table a folding truss mechanism comprising truss membersadapted to be folded Within the top sections of the table havingtriangularlv arranged points of attachment one of vvhich serves .toattach said members tothe hinged ends of the top sections and the othertvvo of which serve to pivotally connect thereto truss rods which rodsare in turn connected near opposite ends of the respective top sectionsin sliding relation thereto.

5. In a folding table a folding truss mechanism comprising truss membersadapted to be folded Within the top sections of they table havingtriangularlv arranged points of attachment one of which serves to attachsaid members to the hinged ends of the top sections and the other tivoof which serve to connect truss rods to said truss member, and trussrods respectively connected atone end to saidtruss member and at theopposite end to the outer end of one of the top sec` tions, theconnection at one end of said truss rods being a sliding connection.

6. A folding table comprising a pair of top sections hinged togetheratone end and provided near their opposite ends with legs adapted to befolded Within said top sections, brace rods connected at one endl tosaid legs intermediate of Vtheir' ends and at their opposite: endsbeingntnrned outwardly and movable in guide chaY nels-carried by saidtop sections, locking recessesat one tremity of said channels toengagethe out:- Wardly turned ends `of said ybraces,means carried by thetop .sections to release s? 'd brace `rods from said lockingrecesseswvit is desired. to foldthe table,v and folding truss mechanism servingto support the cen'- tral portion of said table from its ends, and

.also to prevent lateral displacement of said brace rods.

7. In a folding table a folding truss mechanism comprising truss membersadapted to be folded Within the top sections of the table Vhavingtriangularly arranged points of attachment one of which serves to attachsaid members to the hinged ends of the top sections and the other tvvoof Which serve to connect'truss rodsto saidtruss member7 and truss rodsrespectively pivot-ally connected at one end to said truss member and attheir i opposite ends by sliding connections to the outer ends oftherespective top sections, folding legs to support said table, and meanscontrolled by the movement of said legs to lock said truss rods againstsliding movement vvl'ien said legs `are in the Aunfolded .p0-

sitiOn.

' 8. A folding table comprising arpairof top sections'hinged together atone end and provided near theiropposite ends with legs adapted`to'befolded Within said top sec-.-

tions, brace members to lock said legs in their unfolded position, afolding truss mechanism comprising truss members hinged to said top`sections fand pivotally connected to truss rods respectively connectedby sliding connections to the outer ends of said vtop sections, andmeans controlled by the position of said legs to lock said truss rodsagainst sliding movement relative to the top sections when said legs arein their un! folded positions.

9. A folding table comprising a pair of top sections hinged together byhinge straps which extend along the inside of the side rails .of saidtop sections to near the opposite ends of `said respective topsectionsto constitute means of attachment for folding table legs and also formWith said top s ections guide channels to guide the free endsV of bracerods carried by said table legs, table legs hinged in pairs to the outerends of said hinge straps, brace rods pivotally attached at one end tosaid table legs with their opposite ends held resiliently in saidguidechannels to travel from open to folded position, and locking recesses atthe ends of said guide channels into which the free ends of said bracerods automatically enter when the table legs are in the open position.

10. A folding tablel comprisingv a pair of top sections hinged togetherat one end and provided near their opposite ends with legs adapted to befolded Within said top seothe open position, and means carried by saidtions, brace rods connected Aat one end to top sections to release saidbrace rods from 10 said legs intermediate of their ends and :it theirlooked relation in pairs When it is det-lieir opposite ends movablealongguides sired to fold said table. v i carried by said topseotions,means to auto- In testimony whereof I have aiiixed my matically looksaid brace rods at one exsignature.

tremity of their movement along said i guides to firmly look the. tableand legs in FREDERICK KOENIGKRAMER.

